Attractions Nearby Hong Kong, Day Trips and Excursions

(Hong Kong, China)

The territory of Hong Kong is well-placed for exploring the attractions of southern China, which are connected by bus, rail and ferry. For many centuries, the prosperous city of Guangzhou went by the name of Canton. Guangzhou sits directly north of Hong Kong, where it has become a very popular excursion, with glitzy skyscrapers, museums, historical attractions and temples, and a large, modern shopping mall.

Macau is sited around 65 km / 40 miles to the south-east of Hong Kong and comprises not only the actual Macau peninsula, both of the Coloane and the Taipa islands as well. Further nearby attractions and possible day trips include Shantou, Shekou, Shenzhen, Xiamen and Zhuhai, as well as Taipei on the island of Taiwan.

Xiamen

The metropolitan city of Xiamen lies to the north-east of Hong Kong, where it is known for its relaxing atmosphere and coastal setting, alongside the island of Gulang Yu. Connected to mainland China by nothing more than a long causeway, Xiamen is easy to reach and boasts a large selection of top attractions, which include literally miles and miles of sandy beaches. Popular with families is the Underwater Sea World, the Xiamen Water Park and the White Deer Cave.

Guangzhou

Part of Guangzhou, the south-westerly Shamian Island is where much of the history resides and is connected by a series of bridges, while the western side of the city tends to be where the most visited tourist attractions await, while so good museums lie within the eastern side. In particular, look out for the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, the Guangxio Temple, the Guangzhou Museum of Art, the Museum of the Southern Yue Royal Mausoleum, the Temple of the Five Immortals, the Temple of the Six Banyan Trees, and also the huge Yuexiu Park. Trains link Guangzhou with Hong Kong in under two hours, although if the cost of this journey is a little prohibitive, buses are available and considerably cheaper, offering a journey of just over three hours.

Macau

Standing next to the very mouth of the Pearl River, Macau has an interesting past, with much of its population originating from arriving Portuguese galleons in the 16th century. The main attractions of Macau are its enormous casinos, the most modern of which wouldn't look out of place in Las Vegas. Macau is also brimming with cultural sights of historical significance, such as the Church of St. Dominic, the Guia Fort (Fortaleza de Guia) and the very elegant Leal Sanado building, which is home to both the Senate Library and the IACM Gallery. Dominating much of the city is the eye-catching Macau Tower, which remains amongst the world's highest freestanding attractions and features a number of observation decks. The oldest part of Macau is close to the waterfront Avenida da Republica and well worth a look for its Colonial buildings alone. Ferries to and from Hong Kong are available and the fastest take just one hour, departing from Tsim Sha Tsui in Kowloon.

Shantou

Day trips to Shantou (Swatow) have never been more popular, since that attractions here are certainly plentiful. Lying to the north-east of Hong Kong, Shantou is a beautiful coastal city and features to a population of around 1.5 million people. Especially noteworthy in Shantou is the Buddhist Pagoda Mountain in Chenhai, the Cultural Revolution Museum, the Former Residence of Chen Ci Hong, the Temple of Old Mother, the Temple of Emperor Guan, the Tropic of Cancer Symbol Tower, and also the very beautiful Nan'ao Island.

Shekou

Connected in around 45 minutes by either train or ferry, Shekou is located to the north-west of Hong Kong. Shekou is a particularly appealing border town and just literally a few decades ago was little more than a small group of fishing villages surrounded by estuaries. Today, Shekou is home to a large expatriate community, many of which work next door in Shenzen. The Sea World attraction stands out and offers a huge choice of entertainment, being centered around the Minghua, a grounded ship once serving as the private yacht for France's very own president, Charles de Gaulle.

Shenzhen

Shenzhen City actually straddles Hong Kong's northerly border and has become the most affluent city in the whole of the People's Republic of China. For tourists, the attractions of Shenzhen really come in the form of factory outlets and discount shopping opportunities around the Lo Wu commercial centre and the Dong Men Pedestrian Street. Also of interest is the Dafen Oil Painting Village, the Happy Valley Theme Park, the He Xiangning Art Museum, the military theme park of Minsk World, the Xian Hu Buddhist Temple, the Shenzhen Museum within Lychee Park, and the Shenzhen Art Gallery at Donghu Park. Also, some 15 km / 9 miles to the west are Shekou's the theme parks of China Folk Culture Villages, the Splendid China and the Window of the World.

Taipei

Address: Taiwan
Taipei stands on the northerly side of Taiwan and to the north-east of Hong Kong, where it is quite accessible, although a little too far for a day trip. Those arriving in Taipei, Taiwan's largest city, will find an awful lot to see and do. Attractions include the hot springs within the Beitou district and the nearby Yangmingshan National Park, along with the National Palace Museum, the shopping centres within the Neihu area, the ever-popular Taipei Zoo within Wenshan, and also the lively night market of Tianmu.

Zhuhai

The city of Zhuhai can be found within the Guangdong province, where it is next to the border with Macau and just over an hour away from Hong Kong by ferry, being sited to the west and next to the Pearl River Delta. Zhuhai has become a very popular destination and one of China's fastest growing cities, thanks in no small part to its impressive Special Economic Zone (SEZ) status. Attractions within Zhuhai include the Pearl Land amusement park, the New Yuanming Palace, motorcycle racing at the Zhuhai International Circuit, and the coastal promenade of Lovers' Road, which overlooks the Macau skyline.